Selector switch mechanism



April 26, 1960 STQNER ETAL 2,934,613

SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 31, 1957INVENTORS- Gordon R- figgers Ids 1 I! Parre April 26, 1960 Filed Dec.31, 1957 H. B. STONER ET AL 2,934,613

SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 566 88 86 INVENTOR. Gordon1?.Rogers flat W1 f2 Par/e ffizrgy fi. SlZzzer A ril 26, 1960 H. a.STONER E 2,934,613

SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 31, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WEE; E

7 fiawifi -ii Z n-WY??? INVENTORS,

. Gordon 1? Jeojers g; I a J8 Edwin /1. Par/'8 11 f 26 Hay ,BSZ'aner f/jfy' United States Patent SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM Harry B. Stoner,Edwin M. Parre, and Gordon R. Rogers, Aurora, 111., assignors, by mesneassignments, to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Application December 31, 1957, Serial No. 706,42

9 Claims. (Cl. 200) This invention relates to improvements in a selectorswitch mechanism and is more particularly concerned with a mechanismadapted for use in coin operated automatic beverage dispensing machines.

Beverage dispensing machines, of the character in which the presentselector switch mechanism is adapted to be installed, are designed todispense bulk beverages such as, for example, hot coffee or tea, black,with sugar, with cream, or with both cream and. sugar; hot chocolate orsoup or any other beverage or combination of ingredients to make suchbeverage. Such machines include electrically controlled means forcausing operation of certain mechanism for dispensing hot water and oneor more ingredients following the deposit of a requisite coin or coinsand selective manual pre-setting or post-setting of the selector switchmechanism operable for controlling selective operation of the ingredientdispensing mechanisms.

' In such machines, the fiow of the hot water is controlled by theopening and closing of a solenoid controlled supply valve, and thedispensing of one or more ingredients, such as coffee, tea, sugar,powdered chocolate or powdered soup, is controlled by electricallyoperated dispensing mechanismsflhe details of which constitute no partof the present invention. Prior known devices or mechanisms used for theselection and operation of one or more of the ingredient dispensingmechanisms involve costly complicated structures susceptible tofraudulent or improper operation, require frequent service to maintainthem operable, and usually function in conjunction with ordinaryblade-type switches arranged in the various electrical circuitscontrolling the operation of the ingredient dispensing mechanisms.

The present invention relates to a novel pre-assembled selector switchmechanism comprising a plurality of manually depressible selectorplungers accessible on the outside of the machine housing for easyaccurate selection and manipulation. These plungers are selectivelymanually operable by the customer to cause one, or combinations of twoor more, of a plurality of selector switches to be closed and to remainclosed for an interval of time required to insure the dispensing ofmeasured amounts of ingredients. Due to the specific construction of themechanism operably connecting the plungers with the switches,considerably fewer switches are required in the present invention thanare found in known prior selector mechanisms.

Because the quantity of beverage dispensed must be criticallyproportioned to insure against too little or too much of any beveragebeing dispensed, or the dispensing of an insufiicient or excessivequantity of the ingredients for making such beverage, the presentmechanism is particularly advantageous in that it enables the use ofsnapaction switches instead of blade switches. Snap-action switches areless affected by temperature or moisture variations, and less subject tothe hazard of physical impairment, and hence are more reliable.

Furthermore, the selector switch mechanism includes novel means'actuable when a selected plunger is depressed to effect a beverageselection, to prevent effective operation of any one or more otherplungers until such time as the dispensing operation has been completedand the said plunger has returned to its initial ineffective position.Each plunger also includes novel means to prevent jamming or breakage inthe event such additional plunger is depressed either while the machineis operating, or in the absence of a coin of the proper denominationhaving been deposited.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel selectorswitch mechanism of the character described.

Another object is to provide, in a selector switch mechanism, aplurality of manually depressible plungers and j novel means actuablewhen a selected plunger is operated to hold said plunger depressedduring the operating cycle of the dispensing machine.

Another object is to provide a selector switch mechanism with aplurality of manually operable selector elements and but a minimumnumber of electric snapaction switches actuable either individually orin predetermined groups upon operation of a selected element.

Another object is to provide a selector mechanism of the characterdescribed with a plurality of novel cammed slide plates for providing anoperative connection between each of a plurality of selector plungersand one or more switches to be selectively operated by said plungers.

One of the more important objects is to provide novel means to preventimproper operation of the dispensing apparatus resulting from too rapiddepression and release of a selected plunger.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawmgs:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the selector switch mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof as seen from the right-handside of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the cover plate removedto illustrate the cammed plates and associated mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view as seen from the left-handof Fig. 1, showing the intermediate portion of the mechanism brokenaway.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the bottom end of the selector switchmechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig'.5.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale,takensubstantially on line 77 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the chassis and cammed slide plateassembly, showing the anti-cheat mechanism carried on the chassis. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and2, the novel selector switch mechanism illustrated is adapted to bemounted in the vertical position shown by any suitable means within thecasing of a beverage dispensing machine with its plurality of selectorplungers (eleven in this instance) generally identified at 11, extendingthrough one wall of said casing so as to be readily available for easyselection and manipulation by the customer. As will be more fullyexplained in detail hereinafter, these plungers are selectively operableindependently of one another to effect the selection of a desiredbeverage to be dispensed by the beverage machine.

The entire selector switch mechanism is carried on and within a verticalelongated open ended chassis 12 fabricated from stifi sheet metal stockand comprising a front 7 wall 13, a parallel back wall 14 and aconnecting side wall 15 (Fig. 7). The open bottom end of the chassis isclosed by an end plate 16 (Fig. secured to the chassis walls in anysuitable manner, such as by welding. A top end wall 17 closes the topend of the chassis below the upwardly extending end portions 13a and140: on the front and back walls 13 and 14 respectively.

The chassis front and back walls 13 and 14 are provided with a pluralityof mutually spaced aligned apertures to receive therethrough the stems18 of the plurality of selector plungers 11 for slidably mounting saidplungers on the chassis. Inasmuch as the construction and operation ofeach plunger 11 are identical, the following description of one of saidplungers isequally applicable to all of them.

Selector plungers The stem 13 of each plunger 11 has operably associatedwith it a U-shaped cradle 19 (Figs. 4 and 7) including a bridging wall21 disposed in slidable contact with the inside face of the chassis sidewall 15, and laterally extending parallel top and bottom walls 22disposed on opposite sides of the plunger stem 18. Each of the walls 22has an open ended slot therein in which is seated an end margin of asubstantially square washer 23 slidably mounted on the stem 18. Ahelical spring 24 carried on the stem 18 has one end in abutment withsaid washer and its other end is in abutment with a collar 25 secured tosaid stem 18, so as to provide a yieldable mechanical connection betweenthe cradle 19 and said stem 18.

When the plunger 11 is depressed under normal conditions of operation,the spring 24 acts upon washer 23 and cradle 19 to move said cradle inunison with the plunger for a purpose to be described presently. Whenthe operating pressure on the plunger is relieved, said plunger and itscradle is returned to its initial position by means of a second helicalreturn spring 26 arranged on the stem between the chassis back wall 14and the cradle washer 23. The return spring 26 is, of course, lighterthan the spring 24 so as not to resist movement of the cradle when theplunger is depressed during normal machine operation. In the event thata plunger is depressed when movement of its cradle is prevented, in amanner and under such conditions of operation as will be describedpresently, the spring 24 will be compressed so as to permit the plungerto be operated through its full operating stroke without movement of thecradle thereon and without damage to the mechanism or breakage of any ofits parts or of parts associated with it.

The chassis side wall has a plurality of mutually spaced transverseslots 27 (Fig. 8), one aligned with each plunger stem 18. A plurality ofcam plates 28 are seated on the outside face of the side wall 15 and arefixedly connected to the respective cradle walls 21 so as to be movabletherewith. One end of each cam plate 28 is secured to its cradle 19 by arivet 29 (Fig. 7) while its other end is apertured to receivetherethrough a pin 31 rigidly secured to said cradle and extendingoutwardly through the slot 2'7. Annular spacer elements 29a and 31a areslidably guided within slots 27 and are mounted on rivets 29 and pins 31respectively to maintam plates 28 spaced apart from cradle walls 21 forfree sliding movement with respect to wall 15. The pin 31 has anelongated sleeve-roller 32 journalled thereon for a purpose to bedescribed presently. A conventional C- shaped retainer element 33 holdsroller 32 against longitudinal movement.

Also arranged on the outside face of the chassis wall 15 are a pluralityof anti-cheat plates 34 (Fig. 8), each pivotally mounted at one end, asat35, between adjacent cam plates 28. Each anti-cheat plate has alaterally flared end portion 36 recessed at 37 to receive a rigid guidestud 38 that limits swinging movement of the anticheat plate about itspivot 35 and also prevents outward movement of plate 36 so as to preventcam plate 28 from 4 sliding inwardly past plate 34. When the switchcontrol mechanism is in its vertical position of use, the anticheatplates rock downwardly into the positions substantially as shown in Fig.8 with their flared end portions 36 in substantial abutment. However,when any one of the plungers 11 is depressed, in a normal selectionoperation, the cam plate 28 carried therewith is advanced betweenadjacent anti-cheat plates 34 to rock upwardly the entire series ofplates above the actuated cam plate. When this occurs, all of theanti-cheat plates are held firmly against further displacement, andconsequently effective operation of a second plunger cannot be obtainedowing to the lack of clearance required for its cam plate 28 to advancebetween adjacent abutting anti-cheat plates.

Although it is not necessary to mount the subject device vertically asdisclosed in the drawings, in some instances it is convenient to do so.In this event, it has been found that the combined weight of all of thevertically arranged anti-cheat plates offers excessive resistance to themovement of the lowermost group of plungers 11 and their cam plates 28.This is overcome by providing some, preferably three, of said plates 28with springs 39 connected at one end to a tail portion 41 (Fig. 3)thereon and at their other ends to rigid studs 42 formed integral withadjacent pivot pins 35. Obviously, the studs 42 may be separate from thepivot pins 35 in which instance they would be mounted directly on thechassis wall. The springs 39 are sufficiently tensioned so as tosubstantially counterbalance the weight of the attached anti-cheat plateand of the series of plates immediately thereabove, thus relieving theplates therebelow of most of their weight.

Cammed slide plates Selective depression of any one of the plungers 11operates .to close selected switches in the electrical circuits of thedispensing machine. One such switch is responsive to actuation of anyone of the plungers to close the circuit for operating the machine andwill be described presently. Additional switches are selectivelyactuated in response to manual depression of selected plungers 11. Theseadditional switches operate to close the electrical circuits controllingthe operation of the various ingredient dispensing mechanisms. Theselective switch operating structure, which is best illustrated in Figs.3 and 8, will now be described.

An elongated cammed slide plate 43 (Fig. 8) is seated for longitudinalsliding movement on the chassis over the anti-cheat plates 34 and is ofsuch length as to extend from adjacent the uppermost end of said chassisto substantially midway between the second and third plungers(identified in Fig. 1 as A and CH) from the bottom end of said chassis.This plate is guided by pins 44 having bearing sleeves 44a projectingoutwardly from the chassis wall 15 and extending through slots 45 insaid p ate.

A second cammed plate 46 of like dimensions is arranged over the cammedplate 43 and is similarly guided for longitudinal sliding by slots 47provided therein and engaged over said pins 44 and sleeves 44a.Preferably, thin washers 48 are mounted on sleeves 44a and are interposed between the plates to maintain the plates spaced apart slightlyand to minimize friction when the cammed plates slide relative to oneanother in a manner to be described presently.

I A third cammedplate 49, which is substantially shorter than the cammedplates 43 and 46, is similarly mounted over the cammed plate 46 come twouppermost guide pins 44 and sleeves 44a, which project through slots 51.Spacer washers 52 separateplate 49 from plate 46. A fourth cammed plate53 is arranged end-to-end with rcspect to plate 49 but is spaced belowthe latter and extends over the cammed plate 46. Plate 53 is guided onthe two lowermost guide pins 44 and sleeves 44a which project throughslots '54-therein. Washers 55'hold the cammed plate 53 spaced from theunderlying cammed plate 46. The cammed slide plate assembly preferablyis covered by a cover plate 56 which has a perpendicular flange 57 (Fig.7) on one edge that overlies and is secured to the chassis back wall 14by screws 58. Each of the cammed slide plates 43, 46, 49 and 53 isthereby mounted for independent sliding movement longitudinally alongthe chassis 12 and they are suitably formed, in a manner to bespecifically described hereinafter, so as to be selectively shifted inresponse to actuation of a selected one of the plurality of plungers 11for closing one or more electrical switches connected in the circuitscontrolling the dispensing of the ingredients for the selected beverage.

Solenoid holding mechanism Depression of any one of the plungers 11operates also to close the main electrical circuit of the dispensingmachine through operation of a switch carried by the selector mechanism.The means .for accomplishing this function is mounted on the chassislower end plate 16, as is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4-6. Asthere shown, said end plate 16 carries a solenoid coil 61 mounted, as byscrews 62, on an outwardly extending flange 63 formed on a mountingbracket 64 secured by screws 65 to the bottom or outside face of the endplate 16. The solenoid is connected in the main circuit of the dispensing apparatus through a normally open snap-action switch 66 securedfirmly by screws 67 to said end plate. The solenoid core 68 is suitablyapertured at its free end to receive the reduced end of a pin 69, theother end of which extends through and is'guided along a slot 72 in acam plate 73 secured firmly to a projecting end 74 of a lock-bar shaft75 mounted for oscillating movement about its axis. Shaft 75 extends theentire length of the chassis and is journalled at its other end in thetop end wall 17.

Lock bar Referring now particularly to Figs. 4 and 7, the lockbar shaft-75 lies to one side (beneath as shown in Fig. 7) of the plunger stems1S and the cradles 19 thereon and it carries, for rotation therewith, anelongated V- shaped channel or lock-bar including diverging Walls 76,77. When in its normal rest position, the wall 76 of the lock-barextends toward the plunger stems and into the paths of projections 78 onthe cradle walls 22. When the lock-bar is in this position, the camplate 73 is in the full line position shown in Fig. 5. Upon depressionof any one of the plungers 11, during normal operation of the machine,the leading edge 79 of the respective cradle projection 78 initiallyabuts the lock-bar wall 76 and then rocks said lock-bar in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 7, into substantially the positionillustrated in dotted lines in said figure. Such rocking carries theother lock-bar wall 77 substantially into the dotted line position 77'where it then lies in the path of the trailing edge 81 of the projection78 so as to be engaged thereby and prevent the plunger 11 and cradle 19from returning to their initial positions.

Referring again to Fig. 5, rocking of the lock-bar 75, upon depressionof a plunger 11, also rocks the cam plate 73 from its full line positioninto the dotted line position shown. Such movement of the cam plate 73slides the core 68 into the solenoid coil 61, through operation of thepin and slot connection 69, 72. At the same time, a cam edge 82 on saidcam plate 73 engages a switch arm 83 pivotally mounted on the chassisend plate 16, as at 84, and urges said arm 83 toward the snap actionswitch 66 so as to actuate its switch operating detent 85 and close themain electrical circuit and energize the solenoid 61. Energization ofsolenoid 61 will hold the core 63 retracted until such time as the flowof current in said main circuit is interrupted by operation of the usualtiming mechanism provided in the dispensing machine for controlling theoperating cycle.-

6 This timing mechanism forms no part of the present in vention and itis therefore not described or shown. However, as soon as the maincircuit is broken, the return spring 26 on the actuated plunger 11returns the plunger 11, cradle 19 and lock-bar shaft to their initialpositions.

It frequently happens that a customer depresses and then releases theplunger 11 quite rapidly. In this event, the structure as thus fardescribed would operate in the following manner. The snap-action switch66 would be closed only for an instant during which time the currentthrough solenoid 61 would not build up to a value sufi'iciently high tomaintain the solenoid core in its retracted position. As a result, thecore would immediately return to its initial outward position, cam plate73 would pivot back toward its initial position, and snap-action switch66 would immediately reopen. That is, the selector mechanism would notoperate to institute the dispensing of the dry ingredients.

In order to prevent this improper mode of operation from occurring whenthe plunger 11 is depressed and released too rapidly, there is provideda toggle spring 86 (Fig. 5) for delaying the return movement of camplate 73 for a sufficient time interval for the current to build up insolenoid 61. Spring 86 is in the'form of an integral length of wirecoiled about itself at its intermediate portion and having one eyeletend 86a pivoted to a stud 87 on mounting bracket 64, and its othereyelet end 86b pivoted to a stud 88 on the tail portion of cam plate 73.When the latter is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 the end86b of spring 86 will be to the left of the dead center (the linebetween stud 87 and shaft 75) so that spring 86 will urge the cam plate73 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. As a result, spring 86tends to delay .or retard.v the return movement of cam plate 73sufliciently so that before snap-action switch 66 can reopen the currentthrough solenoid 61 will build up to a value high enough to maintain thesolenoid core retracted.

Ingredient selection The dispensing of the ingredients required to makethe beverage selected by the customer is controlled by sliding of one ormore of the cammed slide plates 43, 46, 49, or 53. Such sliding iseffected upon depression of a selected plunger 11. As noted hereinabove,when a coin is deposited in the machine, the electrical system thereinis conditioned for machine operation. However, the dispensing machinewill not operate until the customer selects the kind of beverage to bedispensed. This is accomplished when the selected plunger 11 isdepressed. Depression of such plunger closes the main circuit switch 66controlling the operation of the dispensing machine and initiates theflow of hot water and slides one or more of the cammed slide plates forclosing the requisite circuit or circuits controlling the mechanism foroperating one or more of the ingredient dispensing mechanisms. When theoperating cycle is completed, the machine is restored to its initialinoperative condition and another operating cycle cannot be instituteduntil another coin is deposited and a beverage selection is made.

Following is a brief description of the ingredient selector mechanismsactuated when each of the plungers 11 is depressed, it being understoodthat in each instance the electrical circuits involved in such operationare conditioned by the deposit of the requisite coin, so as to permitsuch dispensing operation.

Specifically, should a customer desire to obtain black coffee, theuppermost plunger 11, marked C in Fig. 1, is depressed. Depression ofthis plunger closes the solenoid actuated snap-action switch 66 in themain circuit and at the same time carries the sleeve-roller 32 mounted.thereon into a plurality of substantially aligned slots 89,

91 and 92 in the cammed slide plates 43, 46 and 49 respectively. Theslots 89 and 91 are straight with respect to the path of thesleeve-roller 32 whereas the slot 92 in plate 49 is cam-shaped.Consequently, only said plate 49 is shifted upwardly by thesleeve-roller 32 so as to carry a finger 93 on its upper end intooperating engagement with a detent 94 on a normally open snap-actionswitch 95 mounted between the end extensions 13a and 14a of the chassis12. The switch 95 is connected in the electrical supply circuitcontrolling the operation of the dispenser mechanism for the dry coffeeingredient. Consequently, when said switch 95 is closed the operation ofthe dispensing mechanism is initiated. When the machine completes onecycle of operation, the main circuit is broken, thus de-energizing thesolenoid and permitting spring 26 to urge the displaced cradle 19 andplunger C back to their respective initial positions.

When colfee with cream is desired, the plunger 11 dentified as CC, isdepressed so as to carry its sleeve- ,ullfil' 32 into slots 96, '97 and98 in the slide plates 43, 46 and 49 respectively. The slot 96 isstraight whereas the slots 97 and 98 are cam-shaped, and the plates 46and 49 are thereby shifted upwardly. The plate 49 operates as before toclose the switch 95 in the dry coffee ingredient dispensing circuit. Theslide plate 46 has a finger 99 on its upper end which operates a detent101 in a normally open snap-action switch 102 to close said switch. Thisswitch is connected in the circuit to the dry cream ingredientdispensing mechanism. Operation of the machine through one operatingcycle is thus initiated to cause the dispensing of coifee and cream.

To obtain coffee with sugar, the next lower plunger 11 marked CS isdepressed. This carries the sleeve-roller 32 thereon into companionslots 103, 104 and 165 in the slide plates 43, 46 and 49 respectively.Because only the slots 103 and 105 are cam-shaped, the plates 43 and 49only are shifted upwardly. The plate 49 functions as before to close theswitch 95 in the dry coffee ingredient dispensing circuit. The slideplate 43 carries a finger 106 on its upper end that abuts a detent 107in a normally open snap-action switch 108 in the circuit to the drysugar ingredient dispensing mechanism thus closing said circuit. Thebeverage now dispensed contains coifee and sugar.

When coffee with cream and sugar is to be dispensed, the next lowerplunger 11 marked CCS, is depressed. Depression of this plunger carriesits sleeve-roller 32 into slots 109, 111 and 112 in the slide plates 43,46 and 49 respectively. All of these slots are cam-shaped hence allthree plates 43, 46 and 49 are moved upwardly to close the respectivesnap-action switches 108, 102 and 95 for initiating the operation of themechanism for dispensing the coffee, cream and sugar ingredients.

Tea

Should the customer desire to obtain tea, the next lower plunger markedT, is depressed. The sleeve-roller 32 carried by this plunger is therebymoved into slots 113, 114 and 115 in the cammed slide plates 43, 45 and53 respectively. Only the slot 115 in plate 53 is cam-shaped,consequently only this plate is shifted upwardly when this plunger isdepressed. The slide plate 53 has an car 116 on its longitudinal edgethat projects through a guide slot 117 (Fig. 2) in the cover plate 56.The car 116 carries a roller 118 disposed for cooperative engagementwith a switch detent 119 on a normally open snap-action switch 121secured, as by screws 122, to the outside face of the cover top wall(Fig. 2). When the slide plate 53 is shifted upwardly in response todepression of the plunger T, the roller 118 abuts and actuates theswitch detent so as to close the switch 121 for initially energizing thecircuit to the dry tea ingredient dispensing mechanism during machineoperation.

Tea-Cream In the event tea with cream is desired, the next lower plunger11, marked TC, is depressed to carry its sleeve-roller 32 into slots123, 124 and 125 in said slide plates 43, 46 and 53. Because only theslots 124 and 125 are cam-shaped, only the plates 46 and 53 are shiftedto close the snap-action switches 102 and 121 controlling the currentfiow in the circuits to the dry cream and tea ingredient dispensingmechanisms only.

TeaSugar To obtain tea with sugar, the plunger 11, marked TS, isdepressed. As a result, the sleeve-roller 32 thereon moves into slots127, 128 and 129 in slide plates 43, 46 and 53 respectively, and becauseonly the slots 127 and 129 are cam-shaped, only the plates 43 and 53 areshifted upwardly thus closing the normally open switches 108 and 121respectively, for closing the electrical circuits to the dry sugar andtea ingredient dispensing mechanisms.

T eaCreamSugar The depression of the next lower plunger 11, marked TCS,carries its sleeve-roller 32 into slots 131, 132 and 133 in the cammedslide plates 43, 46 and 53 respectively, and, because all of these slotsare cam-shaped all three cammed slide plates are shifted upwardly toclose the respective switches 108, 102 and 12 1 to initiate operation ofthe dry tea, sugar and cream ingredient dispensing mechanisms.

Chocolate The selector switch mechanism illustrated, also includes meansfor selective dispensing of other beverages such as, for example, hotchocolate or either one of two kinds of soup. In order to obtain hotchocolate, the plunger 11, marked CH, is depressed to move itssleeve-roller 32 into operating engagement with a switch detent 134 on anormally open snap-action switch 135 carried on the cover plate 56.Closing of this switch initiates the circuit controlling operation of adry chocolate ingredient dispensing mechanism. The cammed slide plates43 and 46 also are shifted upwardly through engagement of thesleeve-roller 32 with cam slots 136 and 137 in the respective slideplates 43 and 46 so as to close the switches 108 and 102 in the circuitsfor the sugar and cream dispensing mechanisms. The dispensed beverage ischocolate with cream and sugar.

Soup

To obtain one of the two kinds of soup made available in the dispensingmachine, the next to the lowermost plunger 11, marked A, is depressed soas to carry its sleeve-roller 32 into engagement with a switch detent138 of a normally open snap-action switch 139 also mounted on the coverplate 56. When this switch is closed the circuit for the selected drysoup ingredient dispensing mechanism is closed.

Depression of the lowermost plunger 11, marked B, moves itssleeve-roller 32 into actuating engagement with a switch detent 141 in anormally open snap-action switch 142 so as to close said switch andcomplete the electrical circuit to the second dry soup ingredientdispensing mechanism.

It should be apparent at this time that a selective switch mechanism isprovided which has novel operating means readily accessible for easyselective operation and one that is not affected by the presence of heatand moisture. Furthermore, the mechanism is so constructed as to embodybut a minimum number of switches, and is cheat proof and damage proof,thus insuring accuracy and reliability in the dispensing operation. Itshould be understood, however, that the specific structure disclosed forpurposes of illustration may be. varied subpositions thereof, aplurality of members, means mount ing said members for alternativemovement between inoperative and operative positions thereof, aplurality of electrical switches, a plurality of switch actuating meanseach for actuating a respective one of said switches in response tomovement of a respective one of said members to the operative positionof the latter, means for moving a respective different one or differentcombination of said members to their operative positions in response tomanual movement of each respective one of said elements to its operativeposition, locking means movable between initial and locking positionsthereof, means operatively connecting said elements and said lockingmeans for moving the latter to its locking position in response tomanual movement of one of said elements to its said operative position,said locking means comprising means for maintaining said one element inits operative position for the duration of the period that said lockingmeans remains in its locking position, solenoid means energizable tomaintain said locking means in its locking position, an additionalelectrical switch actuable to energize said solenoid means, meansresponsive to movement of said locking means towards its lockingposition to actuate said additional electrical switch, and spring meansto urge said locking means toward said locking position so as to preventthe locking means from returning to its initial position beforesufiicient current flows through said solenoid means to energize thelatter.

2. A mechanism as recited in claim 1 and comprising a fixed frame, saidspring means comprising a toggle spring having one end connected to saidlocking means and its other end secured to said frame.

3. A selector switch mechanism for a dispensing machine and comprising aplurality of manually operable pltmgers each reciprocally movablebetween a normal inoperative position and an operative position, meansurging said plungers toward the inoperative positions thereof, aplurality of slide members, means mounting said slide members foralternative sliding movement between inoperative and operative positionsthereof, a plurality of electrical switches, a plurality of switchactuat ing means each mounted on a respective one of said slide membersfor actuating a respective one of said switches in response to movementof said respective slide member to the operative position of the latter,cam meansfor moving a respective diiferent one or different combinationof said slide members to their operative positions in response to manualmovement of each respective one of said plungers to its operativeposition, locking means movable between initial and locking positionsthereof, means operatively connecting said plungers and said lockingmeans for moving the latter to its locking position in response tomanual movement of one of said plungers to its said operative position,said locking means comprising means for maintaining said one plunger inits operative position for the duration of the period that said lockingmeans remains in its locking position, solenoid means energizeable tomaintain said locking means in its locking position, an additionalelectrical switch actuable to energize said solenoid means, cam meansresponsive to movement of said locking means toward its locking positionto actuate said additional electrical switch, and toggle spring meansactuable in response to movement of said locking means to its lockingposition to urge said locking means toward said locking position so asto prevent the locking means from returning to its initial positionbefore suf- 4. Aselector switch mechanism for a coin-operated dispensingmachine and comprising a plurality of selectively operable elements eachmanually movable from a normal inoperative position to an operativeposition, means urging said elements toward the inoperative posi tionsthereof, a plurality of slide plates extending in parallel contiguousrelation, means mountingsaid slide plates for alternative slidingmovement between inoperative and operative positions thereof, aplurality of electrical snap-action switches, a plurality of switchactuating means each mounted on a respective one of said slide platesfor actuating a respective one of said switches in response to movementof said respective slide plate to the operative position of the latter,each of said slide plates having a plurality of cam means, each of saidelements having a member movable therewith, and engageable with arespective one or plurality of said cam means for moving a respectivedifferent one or different combinations of said slide plates to theiroperative positions in response to manual movement of each respectiveone of said elements to its operative position, a rotatably mountedlocking shaft oscillatably movable through a locus of angulardisplacement between an initial position located substantially at oneextremity of said locus and a locking position located substantially atthe other extremity of said locus, means operatively connecting saidelements and said locking shaft for rotating the latter to itslockingposition in response to manual movement of one of .said elements to itssaid operative position, said locking shaft comprising means formaintaining said one element in its operative position for the durationof the period that said locking shaft remains in its locking posi- Y 35tion, solenoid means energizable to maintain said locking shaft in itslocking position, an additional electrical switch actuable to energizesaid solenoid means, and cam means secured to said locking shaft andresponsive to rotation of said locking shaft toward its locking positionto actuate said additional electrical switch.

5. A selector switch mechanism for a coin-operated dispensing machineand comprising a plurality of selectively operable elements eachmanually movable from a normal inoperative position to an operativeposition,

means urging said elements toward the inoperative positions thereof, aplurality of slide plates extending in parallel contiguous relation,means mounting said slide plates for alternative sliding movementbetween inoperative and operative positions thereof, a plurality ofelectrical snap-action switches, a plurality of switch actuating meanseach mounted on a respective one of said slide plates for actuating arespective one of said switches in response to movement of saidrespective slide plate to the operative position of the latter, each ofsaid slide plates having a plurality of cam means, each of said elementshaving a member movable therewith and engageable with a respective oneor plurality of said cam means for moving a respective different one ordifferent combinations of said slide plates to their operative positionsin response to manual movement of each respective one of said elementsto its operative position, a rotatably mounted locking shaftoscillatably movable between initial and locking positions thereof,means operatively connecting said elements and said locking shaft forrotating the latter to its locking position in response to man ualmovement of one of said elements to its said operative position, saidlocking shaft comprising means for maintaining said one element in itsoperative position for the duration of the period that said lockingshaft remains in its locking position, solenoid means energizable tomaintain said locking shaft in its locking position, an additionalelectrical switch actuable to energize said solenoid means, cam meanssecured to said locking shaft and responsive to rotation of said lockingshaft toward its locking position to actuate said additional electrical.

11 switch, and spring means to urge said locking shaft toward saidlocking position so as to prevent the locking shaft from returning toits initial position before sufficient current fiows through saidsolenoid means to energize the latter.

6. A selector switch mechanism comprising a plurality of selectivelyoperable elements each manually movable from a normal inoperativeposition to an operative position, means urging said elements toward theinoperative positions thereof, a plurality of members, means mountingsaid members for alternative movement be tween inoperative and operativepositions thereof, a plurality of electrical switches, a plurality ofswitch actuating means each for actuating a respective one of saidswitches in response to movement of a respective one of said members tothe operative position of the latter, means for moving a respectivedilferent one or different combination of said members to theiroperative positions in response to manual movement of each respectiveone of said elements to its operative position, a rotatably mountedlocking shaft oscillatably movable through a locus of angulardisplacement between an initial position located substantially at oneextremity of said locus and a locking position located substantially atthe other extremity of said locus, means operatively connecting saidelements and said locking shaft for rotating the latter to its lockingposition in response to manual movement of one of said elements to itssaid operative position, said locking shaft comprising means formaintaining said one element in its operative position for the durationof the period that said locking shaft remains in its locking position,solenoid means actuable to maintain said locking shaft in its lockingposition, an additional electrical switch actuable to actuate saidsolenoid means, and means secured to said locking shaft and responsiveto rotation of said locking shaft toward its locking position to actuatesaid additional electrical switch.

7. A selector switch mechanism for a dispensing machine and comprising aplurality of manually operable plungers each reciprocally movablebetween a normal inoperative position and an operative position, meansurging said plungers toward the inoperative positions thereof, aplurality of slide members, means mounting said slide members foralternative sliding movement between inoperative and operative positionsthereof, a plurality of electrical switches, a plurality of switchactuating means each mounted on a respective one of said slide membersfor actuating a respective one of said switches in response to movementof said respective slide member to the operative position of the latter,cam means for moving a respective different one or different combinationof said slide members to their operative positions in response to manualmovement of each respective one of said plungers to its operativeposition, a rotatably mounted locking shaft oscillatably movable througha locus of angular displacement between an initial position locatedsubstantially at one extremity ofsaid locus and a locking positionlocated substantially at the other extremity of said locus, meansoperatively connecting said plungers and said locking shaft for rotatingthe latter to its locking position in response to manual movement of oneof said plungers to its said operative position, said locking shaftcomprising means for maintaining said one plunger in its operativeposition for the duration of the period that said locking shaft remainsin its locking position, solenoid means actuable to maintain saidlocking shaft in its locking position, an additional electrical switchactuable to actuate said solenoid means, and means secured to saidlocking shaft and responsive to rotation of said locking shaft towardits locking position to actuate said additional electrical switch.

8. A selector switch mechanism for a dispensing machine and comprising aplurality of manually operable plungers each reciprocally movablebetween a normal inoperative position and an operative position, meansurging said plungers toward the inoperative positions thereof, aplurality of slide members, means mounting said slide members foralternative sliding movement between inoperative and operative positionsthereof, a plurality of electrical switches, a plurality of switchactuating means each mounted on a respective one of said slide membersfor actuating a respective one of said switches in response to movementof said respective slide member to the operative position of the latter,carn means for moving a respective different one or differentcombination of said slide members to their operative positions inresponse to manual movement of each respective one of said plungers toits operative position, a rotatably mounted locking shaft oscillatablymovable between initial and locking positions thereof, means operativclyconnecting said plungers and said locking shaft for rotat-.

ing the latter to its locking position in response to manual movement ofone of said plungers to its said operative position, said locking shaftcomprising means for maintaining said one plunger in its operativepoistion for the duration of the period that said locking shaft remainsin its locking position, solenoid means actuable to maintain saidlocking shaft in its locking position, an additional electrical switchactuable to actuate said solenoid means, cam means secured to saidlocking shaft and responsive to rotation of said locking shaft towardits locking position to actuate said additional electrical switch, andspring means to urge said locking shaft toward said locking positionthereof so as to prevent said locking shaft from returning to itsinitial position before sufficient current flows through said solenoidmeans to actuate the latter.

9. A mechanism as recited in claim 8 wherein said spring means comprisesa toggle spring, and means con necting said toggle spring to saidlocking shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,376,403 Thompson May 22, 1945 2,491,168 Dusek Dec. 13, 1949 2,536,829Almelo Jan. 2, 1951 2,673,894 Wallace Mar. 30, 1954 2,723,317 Hutt Nov.8, 1955

